evokeAG

The food and beverage sector is Australia's largest manufacturing industry, worth more than $132 billion, accounting for 32% of total manufacturing turnover, and employing more than 270,000 people. Yet, the advent of COVID-19, rising climate volatility and geopolitical tensions, have underscored the imperative for more resilient and innovative food systems.  A recent opportunity listed on AgriFutures growAG sought to identify forward-thinking startups, SMEs or large companies with innovative solutions that can deliver ‘really clear benefits' to Australia's food and beverage manufacturing sector.  In this bonus episode, contributor Samantha Noon sat down with Dr Chris Downs, Founding Director of Australia's Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA), to discuss the launch of their $20M second investment round developed to take Australia's food and beverage manufacturing sector forward. Watch the webinar recording of FaBA's Accelerator Second Investment Round Launch here: https://faba.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023.08-Second-Investment-Round-Launch_FINAL.m4v

Have you ever heard of the concept of a digital twin? In this episode we're hearing from Stu Adam, one of the Co-Founders of Agronomeye. Agronomeye is a business that creates incredibly detailed maps and models of farms, helping landowners and managers understand what's going on across their property so they can make better decisions. As an entrepreneur in the purest sense of the word, CEO Stu Adam has a background in journalism and admits he was more into surfing than agriculture. Perhaps it's his ability to adapt that's seen him revolutionise aerial mapping.We hope you enjoy this conversation with Stu and evokeAG contributor, Jayne Cuddihy.You can learn more about Agronomeye at evokeag.com or its website agronomeye.com.au.evokeAG. 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them. Tickets are now on sale for  evokeAG 2024 to be held on on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. We hope to see you in Perth, however in the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 at evokeag.com.

Adam Anders is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Anterra Capital, a venture capital fund focussing on investing in innovative companies that are transforming the safety, security and sustainability of global food. Having grown up on a farm in South Australia, Adam has lived the highs and lows of any budding entrepreneur, but admits it's given him a unique insight into all facets of the sometimes gruelling process.  Now, at the helm of his company Anterra, he is committed to building a healthier food system right across the world. Our contributor, Jayne Cuddihy, sat down with Adam at evokeAG 2023 to talk about what motivates him and how he plans to stay on top. evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.Early Bird tickets are now on sale for evokeAG 2024  which will be held on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agritech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Finding world-leading agrifood research expertise, and research, investment and commercialisation opportunities easily, let alone in one easy-to-use location, has always been a challenge – until AgriFutures growAG.growAG is helping to connect its users, researchers, investors, innovators, thought leaders and commercial partners from around Australia and across the globe with agrifood innovation, expertise and opportunities. By shortening the time it can take to find and connect with strategic partners, its' helping increase dealflow and drive value on-farm through the development and adoption of game changing technologies.In this episode, we're bringing you a conversation recorded live at evokeAG 2023 around accelerating commercialisation with AgriFutures growAG.Professor Craig Baille, the former Head of School and Dean for Agriculture and Environmental Science from the University of Southern Queensland and Fern Ho, the Co-founder and CEO of Leaf Protein Co have both used the platform with tremendous success.Listen to their stories, together with insights from John Harvey - the Managing Director of AgriFutures Australia.For more information on the growAG platform, including more success stories and current investment opportunities, please visit growag.com.

As the transition from fossil fuels to renewables gathers pace globally, we brought together different perspectives in a breakout session at evokeAG 2023 in Adelaide. From those who've commercialised renewable fuels on a large scale, to the challenges of sustaining biofuels at a local level, our panellists shared the challenges and opportunities in the production and application of sustainable fuel sources. Before the live recording of the discussion,  evokeAG contributor, Jayne Cuddihy, sat down with Cassian Drew, Managing Partner at Acclimate Partners, and Steven Hobbs, a farm owner and manager who is a passionate user and producer of alternative fuels, to find out a bit more about how they are contributing to the transition from fossil fuels to renewables.  Cassian and Steven were joined in the panel discussion by Jennifer Lauber- Patterson, Managing Director Frontier Impact Group. Their conversation was facilitated by Oli Madgett, Co-Organiser, Agritech Meetup SA.  Visit evokeag.com for more on this session, and other Panel discussions at evokeAG 2023.Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

With an expected two billion extra people to feed by 2050, coupled with changing tastes and dietary preferences, there is a growing global demand for more protein, produced more sustainably and from a wider variety of sources. So how, as a global community are we going to achieve that?  In this episode we're exploring what it will take to satisfy the growing global appetite for protein.The  panel discussion recorded live at evokeAG 2023 includes Professor Michelle Colgrave, the Deputy Director (Impact), Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, David Jochinke, Vice President, National Farmers' Federation, Dr Steven Lapidge, CEO, Fight Food Waste and Anthony  Stewart, CEO, Thomas Foods International. Their conversation is facilitated by Dr Aparna Venkatesh, the Collaborative Innovation Lead for the Bühler Group. evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Globally, research and investment into biological solutions to improve soil and plant health is accelerating exponentially.As regulators around the world seek to reduce the application of chemical pesticides, farmers and growers are looking at biological alternatives to protect plants from diseases, pests, and weeds, or to improve the health of their plants. This workshop, recorded live at evokeAG 2023 looks at the global landscape for biologicals development and application and explores the opportunities it offers to researchers, entrepreneurs and investors.In this episode we hear from Ben Barlow, Managing Director, New Edge Microbials, Ethy Levy, Managing Partner, Kinneret Impact Ventures and Dr Kioumars Ghamkhar from the Margot Forde Forage Germplasm Centre - New Zealand's national seed bank of grassland plants. The conversation was moderated by Peter Wren-Hilton, Co-Founder and CEO, Wharf 42 and Co-Convenor of the 2023 Salinas Biological Summit.evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them. Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 at evokeag.com.

How does an engineer end up crystal ball gazing for next gen plant breeding on a global scale?  By thinking outside the box of course!In this episode we're hearing from Alexander Tokarz, the head of group strategy for Syngenta Group. Based in Basel, Switzerland, he's responsible for the company's long-term growth strategy and business development.His presentation at evokeAG inspired attendees to think about the potential of next gen plant breeding and how it can be used to create a more sustainable and secure world and help humanity grow.  But as he told our contributor Jayne Cuddihy, his role at Syngenta over the last 20 years is a far cry from his original training as an engineer. We hope you enjoy their conversation.  evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Clean and green is to New Zealand, what the Emerald Isle is to Ireland and what innovation is to Israel. These countries have built brand identities and entire markets on leveraging their unique strengths and stories. In this episode we're bringing you three presentations recorded live at evokeAG 2023 from David Downs, CEO of New Zealand Story, Shifka Seigel, Project Manager, Israel Australian Chamber of Commerce, and Mary Shelman, Founder of the Shelman Group. What can Australia learn from these international powerhouses about how to position our producers and innovators on the world stage to deliver direct benefits across the entire supply chain?We hope you enjoy this session evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Uber and Airbnb turned two conventional industries on their heads. How did they do it? Using software that allows two applications to talk to each other. Now it's agriculture's turn. In this episode we're bringing you a workshop  " Data as a second language: understanding what your farm is saying to you" recorded at evokeAG 2023.  Here Andrew Skinner, Director of More Than Machines, and Andrew Cooke , Co-Founder and Managing Director, Rezare Systems showcased the possibilities and benefits of connecting data to create new business models and operating efficiencies for producers and companies alike, in what they've coined the ‘Internet of Agrifood'.evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here

Australia's rural industries face increasing community expectations on a range of issues including environmental management, labour workforce conditions and acceptance of new technologies. Achieving the sector's $100 billion production goal by 2030, requires a pipeline of talented and committed people- the lifeblood of our rural industries. Dr Kieren Moffat is the CEO and Co- Founder Voconiq- a data science and community engagement company, tasked with breaking down the barriers of explaining how Australia's rural industries can cope with increasing community expectations on a range of issues, including environmental management, labour workforce conditions, and acceptance of new technologies.We hope you enjoy his presentation recorded live at evokeAG 2023. For more on this project visit agrifutures.com.au.Save the date for evokeAG. 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG. 2023 here.

Self-driving tractors, seed planting robots and agricultural drones are all putting new technology and better outcomes in the hands of our producers.This episode is a panel discussion recorded live at evokeAG 2023. The companies making it happen and the producers using the tech come together to share what's in the market right now, what's to come, and to discuss at what point does autonomous agriculture start to pay for itself on-farm?The panel features Professor Craig Baillie, Head of School and Dean Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of Southern Queensland, Andrew Bate, the CEO and Co-Founder, SwarmFarm Robotics, Ben Kelly, the Production Systems Manager – Production and Precision Ag, John Deere, and Robert Hardie, the Executive Manager - Health and Agriculture at nbn™ Australia. Their conversation is facilitated by Jackie Poyser, CEO and Managing Director, Three60 Consulting.evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Until recently there wasn't a single Australian venture capital firm focussed on agritech. Today, there are multiple players.  In this episode we explore two very different experiences -  an Australian company that has leveraged government incentives and local funding, and an international company seeking local backing to enter the Australian and New Zealand marketplace.Justin Webb, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, of AgriWebb facilitated this conversation and was joined by Phil Morle,  Partner in Main Sequence Ventures, Kristi Riordan, the Co-founder & CEO of Harvest B, Saar Safra, Founder and CEO of Beewise and Robert Williams, Director, Artesian. evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.Catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

It wasn't so long ago that space exploration was a pipe dream, but now in 2023, we're talking about the very real applications it has for Australian agriculture. Recorded live at evokeAG 2023, this panel discussion takes a deep dive into the future of agri space tech.With a focus on research and development, potential ground-breaking applications and new ways of working, you'll  hear from innovators about how this technology can be leveraged better here on earth, to support more sustainable and profitable farming practices.It features Stephanie Wan, Space Industry Practice, Lead for the Adelaide Office, KPMG Australia and Devon Long, General Manager of ANZ, Regrow. The discussion is facilitated by Charlie Peel, a rural reporter with The Australian. evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Australia and New Zealand's land-based agricultural industries have set ambitious sustainability targets for the future. In this episode we've got a reality check- looking beyond sustainability frameworks in agriculture, industry experts share the realities of their progress beyond frameworks and targets, what keeps them up at night, and how producers can be part of the solution. Involved in this conversation is Michael Anderson, Head of Sustainability, GrainCorp, Bridgit Hawkins, Chief Sustainability Officer, CropX, and Anna Speer, Managing Director, Greenstock- Woolworths Group's stand-alone red meat business. The panel is facilitated by The Australian's Rural Reporter, Charlie Peel. evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

In this episode we're uncovering the secret sauce to commercialisation- bringing together the key ingredients needed to transform agricultural technology from startup to fully fledged commercial player. Syngenta is a provider of plant health solutions and Pairtree Intelligence is a data integrator - together their aligned partnership is adding value to farmers.  In this session from evokeAG fifth-generation farmer and CEO of Pairtree Intelligence, Hamish Munro and Brett Hofman, Head of Business Development, Syngenta Australia and New Zealand share some of the ingredients in their "secret sauce". evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Science and technology, coupled with an investment in skills and capability, need to be harnessed to empower farmers to shape the future of natural capital management and environmental reporting. This episode considers the innovation needed to enable natural capital to be treated as a factor of production in agriculture. It also explores the potential benefits and opportunities that can flow from investment in this. Recorded live at evokeAG 2023 the discussion is facilitated by Chris Scheid, Director, ProAdvice, and includes  Jen Barwick, National Climate and Nature Coordinator, Pew Charitable Trust, Dr Daniel Gregg, Founder and Principal Economist, Heuris Pty Ltd, and Dr Sue Ogilvy, the Program Director at the Macdoch Foundation (Farming for the Future Project). Find more on this session at evokeag.comevokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Our growing ability to engineer biology with automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics is driving a biomanufacturing revolution.This wide-ranging session looks at some of the most cutting-edge developments, from space ag's push to enable long term space habitation and sustainability on Earth, to the fermentation advancements driving the wineries of the future, and new processing technology in dry fractionation for plant protein.Brought to you by evokeAG Partner, The University of Adelaide, this workshop "Next gen: biomanufacturing for Earth, sustainability and space" was facilitated by Lieke van der Hulst, Executive Offer, Waite Research Institute and features four of the uni's brightest minds.We hope you enjoy these presentations from: Professor Rachel Burton, Head of the Food Science Department, Professor Vladimir Jiranek from the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Robert Falconer, a Professor of Bioprocess Engineering and Associate Professor Jenny Mortimer, an expert in Plant Synthetic Biology in the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine. evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them. Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Government, industries and companies are stepping up their climate commitments and evokeAG. 2023 highlighted the opportunities and potential challenges for agriculture in tapping into the carbon market. A panel of experts working in this space argued there's more than one way for farmers to cash in on soil carbon and climate friendly management practices, but that data is the key. This session was facilitated by Oli Madgett and brings together Stuart Austin, General Manager Wilmot Cattle Co, Dr Nicole Buckley Biggs, Director of Sustainability, AgriWebb, Greg Butler, Managing Director Clean Carbon Pty Ltd and Dr Rob Waterworth, Co Founder and CEO FLINTPro.Read more about the session and catch up on evokeAG highlights at evokeag.com.

The application of agritech is often positioned to improve operational efficiency, profitability and sustainability. Industry is now leveraging on-farm data and infrastructure to provide a more robust end-to-end supply chain. In this session, experts from three of Australia's leading agri-corporates discuss the peripheral value drivers that producers should consider in their pursuit of digitising their business.In this episode,  we hear from Dr Ben Baghurst is the Founder and Principal Consultant, AgTech Consulting, Mark Barber is the General Manager, Farmland Agency and Investments for Elders, and Carmel Onions is the National Director Agribusiness for the Commonwealth Bank.  Their discussion at evokeAG 2023 was facilitated by Michael Macolino, Managing Director, SVG Ventures Thrive. Read more about the session here.

In this episode we're bringing you a panel discussion from evokeAG.  2023 presented by our Silver Partner CommBank. In this session the panel of industry experts concluded that measurement is not only vital but can deliver great opportunity on and off farm.Natasha Greenwood, General Manager Agribusiness, Commonwealth Bank facilitated the session and was joined by Dr Natalie Doran-Browne, Director of Science, Agricultural Emissions, FLINTpro, Tegan Nock, Co-founder and CPO, Loam, Robert Mackenzie, Managing Director, Macka's Australian Black Angus Beef and Carmel Onions, National Director Agribusiness at the Commonwealth Bank. Read about the session here.

David Downs has had a fascinating career that's seen him on stage as a comedian, a published author; he's worked in leadership roles with Microsoft in New Zealand and the Asia Pacific and held a portfolio of interests across international trade, technology, economic development and charitable causes. It's these skills as a storyteller and a leader that has culminated in his latest role- the CEO of New Zealand Story. In this episode, evokeAG contributor Jayne Cuddihy found there's plenty Australia can learn from the other side of the ditch. Save the date for evokeAG. 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG. 2023 here.

In recent years the global appetite for sustainably sourced seafood, fishery and aquaculture products has increased. So too has the focus on finding solutions to overcome some of the challenges associated with aquaculture seafood operations. In this session facilitated by The Australian's National Rural Reporter, Charlie Peel industry leaders CH4 Australia General Manager, Dr Adam Main, Director of the not-for-profit Ocean Decade Australia, Dr Lucy Buxton and  CEO of Austral Fisheries, David Carter discussed how the industry is faring (in turning a blue industry green) and which innovations are driving a circular approach to deliver on environmental, social and economic bottom lines.Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023  at evokeag.com

From designing crops for fuel production, to creating programmable cells to fight disease, synthetic biology or SynBio is big business. There's also big interest and big backing from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. In this session at evokeAG. 2023 four SynBio players (Dr Natalie Curach, Ginkgo Bioworks, George Peppou, Vow Foods, Dr Lisa Ronquest-Ross, v2foods, and Michele Stansfield, Cauldron Molecules) share their thoughts on the advances in the field, the applications and what it might mean on farm in the near future.Read more about the session at evokeag.com

Elders is a  platinum partner of the evokeAG event, and recognises the value in nurturing relationships across the entire international agricultural supply chain. Elders' CEO Mark Allison has a strong vision for how Elders will continue to work with producers and industry to build a vibrant future. This epsiode includes Mark's presentation at evokeAg 2023, but first, our contributer Jayne Cuddihy wanted to know a bit more about Mark and what has driven him to pursue a career in agriculture. For more information on Elders and their other events, programs and opportunities visit elders.com.au

This week we bring you another evokeAG x Humans of Agriculture collaboration podcast, with Oli Le Lievre.Oli chats with Dr Penny Schulz, the owner of a beef and sheep farm in Field, in the Coorong region of South Australia, who never thought she'd end up working in ag.Fast forward a few decades and Penny has become a champion for the sector - researcher, university lecturer, industry advocate, agritech entrepreneur and most recently, evokeAG Steering Committee member.  Penny is a previous winner of the Rural Women's Award (South Australia, 2014) and has a PhD in Rural Science from the University of New England (UNE) where she investigated the adoption of app technology by livestock producers. She is now the Livestock Production Specialist Adoption Officer for the University of Adelaide.Penny credits her broad career to the fact that the ag sector by definition is not "set in stone, it's not prescriptive. In technology development it's called being agile, and with careers in ag you can change and build skills and take up opportunities". Listen to her chat with Oli about the trajectory of her career, how she got into the agriculture sector, and how her home state is becoming the epicentre of agritech innovation. Learn more about the Humans of Agriculture podcast and read Oli's stories, here.We hope you enjoy this conversation.

This week we bring you an episode with Dan Winson, Co-Founder and CEO of dynamic agritech company Zetifi.Dan and Zetifi have been part of the evokeAG story since the beginning,  and have made the most of the opportunities and connections established through the evokeAG. community. Zetifi is a Wagga Wagga based company that provides farmers with greater connectivity through their long range Wi-FI coverage extension products. And in late 2022, Zetifi closed its $12 million series A funding round.Dan says their products address a major barrier to the digitisation of agriculture and are recognised as a foundational technology that will unlock significant value from on-farm digital technologies in years ahead.Zetifi will return to evokeAG. on 21-22 February 2023, exhibiting in Startup Alley.Our contributor Emily Malone recently visited Dan at Zetifi's Wagga headquarters and went into the paddock to see its products firsthand.We hope you enjoy this conversation.Meet Dan and the team at AgriFutures evokeAG. 2023 Down to Earth event on 21-22 February 2023 in Adelaide, South Australia. Tickets are on sale here.View the full two-day program, including all speakers and partners making evokeAG. 2023 possible.

Our global food system has a long history of evolution – responding to the changing needs of the global population. But "Are we evolving fast enough?"In this evokeAG. podcast internationally recognised thought leader and AgriFutures evokeAG. 2023 speaker, Mary Shelman,  speaks with contributor Casey Dunn about how we can accelerate our transformation, and achieve a more sustainable global food system.Mary will also join a panel discussion on Day two at evokeAG. 2023 to explore the global forces driving world trade in a discussion about climate, COVID-19, conflict and cost.We hope you enjoy their conversation.Hear more from Mary Shelman and her insights on achieving a sustainable global food system? Join us, at the AgriFutures evokeAG. 2023 Down to Earth event on 21-22 February 2023 in Adelaide, South Australia. Tickets are on sale here.View the full two-day program, including all speakers and partners making evokeAG. 2023 possible.

This week we bring you another evokeAG x Humans of Agriculture collaboration podcast, with Oli Le Lievre. Oli catches up with Julia and Jordy Kaye, the founders of greatwrap, a Victorian based startup creating a biodegradable alternative to petroleum based plastic wraps using potato waste to replace plastic cling wrap in kitchens and on industrial pallets.The circular economy business has attracted serious interest from investors, raising a $24 million Series A round in July 2022, including an $11 million equity portion. The funding has helped great rap to launch into us and scale up production in Australia with a bio refinery capable of manufacturing 30,000 tonnes of wrap, making great Wrap Australia's largest cling wrap manufacturer.In this conversation, Oli speaks to Julia and Jordy about how an idea over a bottle of wine turned into a business that is set to shake up the plastic wrap industry.We hope you enjoy this conversation.Learn more about the Humans of Agriculture podcast and read Oli's stories, here. And if you're interested in joining us at the Adelaide Convention Centre, South Australia on 21-22 February 2023 for the evokeAG 2023 Down to Earth event or partnering, find more details here, via evokeAG.com.

This week we bring you our evokeAG x Food Futurists collaboration series with Professor Andy Lowe exploring solutions today that will help drive sustainable food systems tomorrow.In this episode, Andy catches up with Jenny Mortimer,  Associate Professor of Plant Synthetic Biology in the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine at the University of Adelaide to explore the possibilities of Synthetic Biology (SynBio) and how it could help to grow plants and medicine for astronauts living and working in space.  Imagine fresh food growing in a space station – safe from cosmic radiation – to provide the nutritional needs and creature comforts, astronauts normally go without.   SynBio is an area playing a crucial role in addressing some of the key challenges, we face today, in outer space and here on Earth, such as making biodegradable plastics and increasing plant production in vertical farming to grow more food. In this interview, Jenny explores the leaps and bounds of research and the challenges ahead, on the epic voyage of novel food production.  Hear more from Jenny at evokeAG. on 21-22 February 2023 in Adelaide. Secure your tickets at evokeag.com/events

This week we bring you a podcast from AgriFutures growAG, the gateway to Australia's agrifood innovation system.Our growAG contributor,  Samantha Noon catches up with Tegan Nock, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Australian microbial tech startup, LoamBio, and Louisa Burwood-Taylor, Head of Media for Silicon Valley venture capital firm, AgFunder, and Chief Editor of AgFunder News – the go-to global investment news platform.Together they explore the key investment trends and noteworthy funding rounds, from the recent AgFunder 2022 Asia-Pacific AgriFoodTech Investment Report, including LoamBio's Series A, Top 5 Aussie deal, worth $40million AUD, and what that means for Australian biotech going forward.  First Louisa, joins us from London, to help unpack the deal flow trends, including China's investment slump, India's blossoming market, where alt proteins are headed, and the growing calibre of innovative startups making their mark. Visit growAG.com to read the full story, and visit AgFunder.com to download the investment report.  

This week we bring you a podcast from Agrifutures growAG, the gateway to Australia's agrifood innovation system, as we speak to Graeme Barnett the Managing Director & CEO of Qponics, a company that produces marine microalgae that is used for the co-production of protein-rich food ingredients and high-value oils. Qponics successfully developed a pilot farm in Brisbane, and now has plans to build a complex of six farms, each 100 hectares in size at South Ballina, in NSW, a region deemed the “Goldilocks zone”, for marine microalgae farming in Australia. The Queensland agritech company is currently seeking investment for a $1 million bridging round to help scale sustainable oil and protein production. It's an exciting opportunity for impact investors and those with networks in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, or nutraceutical manufacturing and distribution in Australia, Asia, USA or Europe.Our growAG contributor Judy Kennedy caught up with Graeme, to learn more about Qponics, their mission to accelerate the transition to droughtproof agriculture, and how the marine microalgae industry could become a major player in the future of protein production. Visit growAG.com to read the story, and learn more about this opportunity, here. *Episode correction notes Graeme made two references throughout the podcast, he wanted to clarify. He talks about ESG (environmental, social, and governance) at 14.49mins and says “economic” instead of “environmental”.  He also notes at 24mins,  he says "TGA"  instead of "FDA". 

This week we bring you a podcast from AgriFutures evokeAG exploring an end-to-end agrifood production giant from the country's West. Owned by Andrew and Nicola Forrest, Harvest Road is part of one of Australia's largest private investment groups, Tattarang. As a proud Western Australian agrifood producer, the company is plotting a course to rewrite the script when it comes to animal welfare and environmental sustainability across its three core brands delivering premium beef, seafood, and horticulture products.Our AgriFutures evokeAG contributor, Megan Woodward caught up with Paul Slaughter, the CEO of Harvest Road, who believes anything is possible when innovative technology and a respect for heritage combine.Read the full story, at evokeAG.com here. Want to learn more about the Asia Pacific region's innovative agrifood tech ecosystem? Join us at evokeAG on 21-22 February 2023 in Adelaide, South Australia Tickets for evokeAG 2023 Down to Earth are now on sale at evokeAG.com/events.

This week we bring you another evokeAG x Humans of Agriculture collaboration podcast, with Oli Le Lievre. Oli catches up with waste warrior and insect farming pioneer, Olympia Yarger, the CEO and Founder of Goterra, an agritech startup using robotics and black soldier flies to turn food waste into a protein source, used as animal feed and a nutrient-dense fertiliser.Earlier this month, Olympia was announced as the 2023 ACT Australian of the Year for her contributions in dealing with climate change. Goterra's food management system has processed more than 35,000 tonnes of waste and saved more than 66,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. The modular biowaste converters have been a huge success for Sydney's Barangaroo precinct in managing high-volume commercial and retail food waste. The Woolworths Group has also incorporated Goterra's solution into their business model to help achieve zero food waste going to landfill by 2025.Here Olympia shares her story with Oli about how personal tragedy led to her traveling overseas and how those experiences helped shape who she is today and ultimately led to the creation of Goterra.

This week, we bring you another evokeAG x Food Futurists podcast collaboration with Professor Andy Lowe, exploring solutions today that will help drive sustainable food systems tomorrow.  In this episode, Andy speaks with Tony Hunter, a Global Food Futurist and consultant at Future Cubed. Tony delves deep into what the future of food might look like and how the industry may be shaped in the coming years, as countries around the globe look to strengthen food security and food sovereignty, while pursuing sustainable outcomes. He ponders the big ticket items, like how will conventional protein agriculture fair in the long run, with the emergence and growth of new protein industries such as cellular agriculture? And we learn about the high-impact emerging technologies catching his eye. It's always a fascinating and informative chat with Tony, so please enjoy his conversation with Andy.You can get in touch with Andy Lowe, via his website or LinkedIn and listen to his Food Futurists or Eco Futurists podcasts.Interested in attending evokeAG 2023?  Tickets are now on sale at evokeag.com/events

This week, we bring you our evokeAG. x Food Futurists collaboration series with Professor Andy Lowe, exploring solutions today that will help drive sustainable food systems tomorrow.In this episode, Andy speaks with Genevieve Griffin-George, evokeAG. 2020 Future Young Leader and Founder of PICMI, a digital recruiting platform that helps speed up the process of hiring seasonal workers and takes the stress away from growers in managing the HR process.PICMI's online tool reduces hiring time for growers by up to 70%, from application, contract, and right through to induction. Allowing growers to focus their valuable time elsewhere in their business.It's also a win-win for job-seekers, meaning they can find out more about the job before they apply and know in real time if they have been hired or not. This means less angst in having to wait days to find out if they've been successful in their application – that's been the case in more of a traditional setting.We hope you enjoy their conversation about PICMI, the benefits for seasonal workers and growers, and how the evokeAG. 2020 Future Young Leader Program has shaped Genevieve's journey and helped broaden her network as a startup.You can get in touch with Andy Lowe, via his website or LinkedIn and listen to his Food Futurists or Eco Futurists podcasts. Visit evokeAG.com for more stories.

This week our evokeAG contributor, Ken Eastwood interviews two interesting characters from Kangaroo Island, South Australia, who have formed a partnership that's benefiting both their businesses and the environment.The first is Charlie Schmidt, head distiller at Kangaroo Island Spirits, who has overseen the rapid growth of the distillery – with a focus on making it more sustainable. The second is Elders stock agent Stuart Were, who has a small cattle operation on the island. He has begun feeding his cattle the waste malted barley from the distillery, preventing it from going to landfill. The cows are loving it, and it's set to offer multiple benefits for the environment, including reducing methane emissions by livestock.Elders are the Platinum Partner of evokeAG 2023 Down to Earth event – where we will explore how farming, tech, science, and people collectively have the power to bring innovative ideas to life.Interested in attending evokeAG. 2023? Come and see the Elders team in Adelaide, South Australia on 21-22 February 2023 at the Adelaide Convention Centre.Tickets are now on sale at evokeag.com/events

This week we bring you another evokeAG. x Humans of Agriculture podcast, as part of our collab series with Oli Le Lierve.Throughout this series, we'll shine a light on the people – from all walks of life – who make our global agrifood system so vibrant. We hear their stories of innovation, their diverse backgrounds, what drives them, and why shaping the future of food is so rewarding.In this episode, Oli catches up with Angeline Achariya, the executive director of innovation and growth at Simplot Australia and also the Country Chair for Australia, Food Innovation for G100 Mission Million.Here Angeline talks all things agrifood innovation, and product development. She shares some of the biggest changes that she has seen during her career, and the emerging trends that she thinks will have a major impact on future food production.We hope you enjoy their conversation about the future of food and global innovation. Learn more about the Humans of Agriculture podcast and read Oli's stories, here.And if you're interested in joining us at the Adelaide Convention Centre, South Australia on 21-22 February 2023 for evokeAG. 2023 Down to Earth event or partnering, find more details here, via evokeAG.com.

In this Food Futurists x evokeAG. collaboration podcast we take a look into a sustainable greenhouse solution for hot and dry coastal regions, often where conventional agriculture would otherwise be impossible.Professor Andy Lowe speaks to Charlie Paton, the founder of Seawater Greenhouse, a company that designs greenhouses that are powered by sunlight, utilise the seawater to water plants and also create a cooler and humid environment where plants can thrive and reduce evapotranspiration by up to 90%.Seawater Greenhouse technology has been implemented in some of the hottest and driest places in the world, such as Abu Dhabi, Oman, Somaliland and here in Australia, in Port Augusta for sun drop farms. Here, Andy and Charlie talk about the novel greenhouse design and other solutions to help tackle climate change within agriculture.  We hope you enjoy their conversation.You can get in touch with Andy Lowe, via his website or LinkedIn and listen to his Food Futurists or Eco Futurists podcasts.Related podcasts: The Desert Oasis: Challenging the status quo to shape sustainable food systems (search in our podcast channel)Enjoyed this podcast? Want to learn more about the Asia Pacific region's innovative agrifood tech ecosystem? Sign up for our newsletter here and receive fresh stories about global leaders, farmers, startups and innovators driving collaborative change. 

In this Food Futurists x evokeAG. collab podcast Professor Andy Lowe speaks with Dr Moira Smith, Digital Content Analysis Technology (D-CAT) Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer. In this conversation Andy and Moira explore D-CAT's involvement with agriculture, the range of possibilities satellite sensor technology offers, such as weight management, optimising grazing cycles and yield predictions. And why integration and collaboration is the key in allowing farmers to better utilise this technology.We hope you enjoy their conversation. You can get in touch with Andy Lowe, via his website or LinkedIn and listen to his Food Futurists or Eco Futurists podcasts.

This week we bring you a podcast from AgriFutures growAG exploring the colossal challenge, which we face today, how to feed the world in 2050.Did you know there's a 56% gap between the amount of food we make today and what we're going to need globally by 2050?Our AgriFutures growAG contributor, Megan Woodward caught up Phil Morle, Partner of Main Sequence Ventures, co-founded by CSIRO, and the leader of the ‘Feed 10 billion People' challenge. Phil believes ‘radical collaboration' is going to be the key driver.“The only way we're going to be able to solve a problem the size of this one is to work together,” said Phil.Main Sequence Ventures is now on the hunt for researchers, innovators, and inventors developing ground-breaking ideas that could become globally significant companies. If that sounds like you, head to growAG.com to learn more about Main Sequence Ventures 'Feed 10b People' challenge.

Today we bring you our evokeAG. x Food Futurists collaboration series with Professor Andy Lowe, exploring solutions today that will help drive sustainable food systems tomorrow.Here Andy speaks with Peter Wren-Hilton, the CEO of Wharf42 a consultancy specialising in connecting local and international partners – particularly NZ startups and early-stage agritech companies – to support the Trans-Tasman agritech sector scale its global presence.Peter is also the Founder of Agritech New Zealand, Convenor of the 2035 Oceania Summit and works closely with the AgriFutures evokeAG Steering Committee.Andy caught up with Peter back in May this year to learn more about the 2035 Oceania Summit, set to take place on 10-11 October 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand.The 2035 Oceania Summit has been designed to enable the region's scientific and research community, its industry leaders, agribusiness and agritech companies, farmers and growers, regulators and policymakers to meet and discuss how agrifood tech innovation and on-farm application can help address the existential threat posed by climate change.We hope you enjoy their conversation. You can listen to more Food Futurists podcasts here. And if you're interested in attending the 2035 Oceania Summit, please register at 2035.agThe 2035 Oceania Summit is offering special offer ticket prices for Australian delegates looking to attend the event from 10-11 October 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand (use the code AUS2035). Early-bird tickets end on 15 August. If you are interested in being part of an Australia delegation please contact AgriFutures growAG Engagement Manager, David Lord, via growAG.com

This week we bring you an important conversation about bees, the lifeblood of the food chain – responsible for pollinating one third of Australia's food – and why protecting their existence, in the midst of a national biosecurity threat, the varroa mite, has never been of greater importance.Our AgriFutures evokeAG contributor Casey Dunn caught up with David Lyall, a commercial beekeeper, and CEO and Co-Founder of Bee Innovative, an Australian agritech startup revolutionising the centuries-old practice of commercial pollination. The groundbreaking technology gives growers a real-time insight into how well bees are pollinating a crop, enabling interventions that boost yield, quality, and profitability.Learn more about Bee Innovative at evokeAG.com or connect with David and Kate Lyall at AgriFutures evokeAG 2023 event in Adelaide, 21-22 February 2023.

This week we bring you another evokeAG x Humans of Agriculture collaboration podcast with Oli Le Lievre.We hear from Anna Speer, the Managing Director of Woolworths' red meat business, Greenstock about what it's like working at the forefront of innovation and managing red meat supply chains during a pandemic – with agility top of mind.   We learn about the importance of bringing people together, communication, and mentorship – and how work-life balance helps Anna drive meaningful change for the agrifood industry.  We're also excited to announce, Anna Speer will be a speaker at the AgriFutures evokeAG 2023 Down to Earth event held in Adelaide, South Australia on 21-22 February 2023.  If you're interested in joining us at the two-day, full-scale, global event or partnering, visit evokeAG.com for more details.

As the largest agricultural research and development organisation in the world, Bayer Crop Science is at the forefront of innovation.And to stay ahead of the curve, Bayer is collaborating with organisations outside of their own to unearth the next big breakthrough in science to advance agriculture.Our AgriFutures growAG contributor, Megan Woodward caught up with Phil Taylor, the Director of Open Innovation and Outreach for Bayer Crop Science, back in May to learn about their approach to unlocking ‘cool innovation' and how growAG is helping to harness these novel solutions that will benefit growers around the world, including Australia.   Phil believes external partnering is the driving force for innovation.We hope you enjoy their conversation. And if you'd like to learn more about Bayer's Grants4Ag program offering three unique opportunities for funding and mentorship, visit the AgriFutures growAG platform at growAG.com. Applications close 31 July. 

This week we learn about the possibilities of space exploration, the benefits for agriculture and why global collaboration is so important – given that it's expensive work.Our evokeAG contributor Oli Madgett speaks with Earth observation scientist, Hugh Mortimer who leads the UK's Global Research Innovation Partnership (GRIP) program, which recently visited Australia. We hear about the collaborative work between the UK and Australia and why jointly funded space research will have a long-term benefit on agriculture and dealing with climate change. Think farm mapping, measuring above-ground biomass, bodies of water, climate and disaster forecasting and remote sensing. We hope you enjoy their conversation and the exciting potential for a valuable bilateral science program.

This week we catch up with the CEO of Wine Australia, Dr Martin Cole.As one of Australia's 15 Rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) – Wine Australia has been charging ahead with exciting agritech innovations to ensure Australia's viticulture industry continues to thrive, off the back of a challenging period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Martin is optimistic about the future and believes innovation is key.  Here our AgriFutures growAG contributor Megan Woodward speaks with Martin about Wine Australia's innovation and R&D approach to exciting possibilities like low and no alcohol products.Wine Australia has been working with growAG to take industry solutions to the next level. As Martin explains growAG has been a fantastic connector and accelerator for innovation within the industry.We hope you enjoy their conversation. And if you'd like to learn more about Wine Australia's innovative work, visit growAG.com and take a look at Wine Australia's profile.

This week we bring you an interview with a young trailblazer and an evokeAG Future Young Leader Alumni, George Chapman. George was selected back in 2020, to be part of the AgriFutures evokeAG Future Young Leader Program, where he took to the stage at evokeAG in Melbourne, to talk about the importance of soil health and share part of his regenerative agriculture journey. Originally from Coraki on the Northern Rivers, George now lives on the edge of the Nairobi National Park in Kenya, where he runs an organic broiler chicken farm and uses regenerative practices at his family's safari lodge 'Ololo Farm', where he also trains and educates Kenya's youth in organic and regenerative farming practices.  Here he shares his experience from the evokeAG Future Young Leaders Program, and how it helped him expand his network and shape his agricultural journey.We hope you enjoy their conversation and if you or someone you know, would like to be a part of the evokeAG. 2023 Future Young Leaders Program, head to evokeAG.com to find out more. Applications close Sunday 3 July 2022. 

Today we bring you our evokeAG. x Food Futurists collaboration series with Professor Andy Lowe,  exploring solutions today that will help drive sustainable food systems tomorrow. Buckle up for Andy's conversation with David Farquhar, a serial entrepreneur and CEO of Scottish agritech company, Intelligent Growth Solutions – a trailblazer of vertical farming, in a class of its own. Imagine a precision-controlled indoor environment where plants can thrive all year round without soil, with an energy system that mimics real sunlight and seasonality.These one-of-a-kind fully-automated modular Growth Towers are being used by food producers, businesses, and farmers all over the world, and soon the first solar-powered commercial-scale farm in Perth, Australia will house the tech solution at Eden Towers.Learn more about this ground-breaking solution and the opportunities for farmers and re-localising supply chains with Andy Lowe and David Farquhar.  Show note: Watch the 'Blood Sweat and Dreams' film David refers to and go to 11.53mins to see IGS feature > https://bloodsweatanddreams.economist.com/film1/

Renowned as one of Australia's most productive food bowls, the Goulburn Valley is abundantly rich in produce and teeming with innovation opportunities set to benefit a range of agrifood businesses.To continue driving the region's productivity, the NorvicFoods project was launched, with the University of Melbourne and Sensand Technologies to work with the community to solve key issues facing agrifood businesses in the value chain and nurture the connection of university graduates to agriculture. Davi La Ferla,  Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Sensand Technologies, a key partner in the project, speaks with growAG. contributor, Judy Kennedy about the possible innovations set to rejuvenate Victoria's Hume region and why human-centered and tech-enabled solutions will help to maximise business outcomes. If you're an agribusiness in the Goulburn Valley with an industry challenge you'd like solved, you can submit applications via growAG.com here. Expressions of Interest close in December 2022.  

This week we bring you another Humans of Agriculture x evokeAG. podcast, as part of our collaboration series with Oli Le Lievre. Here Oli speaks with Mike Lee, a global food futurist based in the US, about the possibilities of our future food system and what that may look like in five to 25 years – and how better connections between farmers and consumers is key to agricultural prosperity. As Co-Founder of Alpha Food Labs – a food innovation company that helps other companies create innovation strategies and new products that are better for people, planet, and palate – and Founder of the Future Market, a futurist food lab, Mike's experience in food design and innovation is incredibly diverse. We hope you enjoy their conversation about the future of food, farming and deep thinking to drive innovation.